TLC to debut West Coast Custom's new 'Street Customs' October 11

By Christopher Rocchio, 09/12/2007

TLC has announcedStreet Customs, a new reality series featuring the staff of West Coast Customs -- the same automotive shop formerly featured in MTV's Pimp My Ride -- will premiere on Thursday, October 11.

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Street Customs will follow Ryan Friedlinghaus and his West Coast Customs automotive shop as it moves from Los Angeles into a new facility in Corona, CA. Despite the new digs, the West Coast Customs staff will continue to construct everything from modern-styled street rods to $100,000 luxury vehicles.

West Coast Customs should be familiar to reality television fans, as it was the custom body shop featured in MTV's Pimp My Ride during the series' first four seasons.

Galpin Auto Sports replaced West Coast Customs as the featured body shop for Pimp My Ride's fifth and sixth editions when Friedlinghaus announced in December 2005 he was planning a new reality show with Discovery Channel, which is owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that owns TLC.

West Coast Customs apparently got out just in time, as MTV begain airing Pimp My Ride's final eight episodes in July.

"MTV was a great experience for me and for my shop," said Friedlinghaus, who founded West Coast Customs in 1993. "Now, I am really excited about the opportunity to help create a show around the real star of what Pimp My Ride showcased - the shop! TLC is a great home for a show like this - we will tackle some of the most extraordinary car builds ever conceptualized and built on television."

The previously announced show will air as part of TLC's "Turbo on TLC" motorized-themed Thursday night line-up, which also includes new episodes of returning shows American Chopper, American Hot Rod and Wrecks to Riches.

Street Customs is executive produced by Craig Piligian and his Pilgrim Films and Television, with Friedlinghaus serving as an executive producer.